Protective exploratory projectile for law enforcement maneuvers

ABSTRACT

A protective exploratory signalling projectile adapted to be manually thrown within a darkened area from one location to another during law enforcement maneuvers. The projectile is provided with a light source, means for supplying energy to the source, trigger means operable to control the energy supply to the source, and time delay means for postponing the energy supply for a time interval immediately following the operation of the trigger whereby the triggered projectile may be thrown without illuminating the location of the party throwing it.

United States Patent 7919x9322 1 @fQXQIQEW 2,346,079 4/1944 Newton95/l2.5 UX 3,011,048 11/1961 O'Brien 46/228 X 3,304,650 2/1967 Glass eta1 272/8 N X Primary Examiner- Louis R. Prince I AssistantExaminerDaniel M. Yasich Attorney-Robert Brown, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A protective exploratory signalling projectile adapted to bemanually thrown within a darkened area from one location to anotherduring law enforcement maneuvers. The projectile is provided with alight source, means for supplying energy to the source, trigger meansoperable to control the energy supply to the source, and time delaymeans for postponing the energy supply for a time interval immediatelyfollowing the operation of the-trigger whereby the triggered projectilemay be thrown without illuminating the location of the party throwingit.

PATENTFU-mwmn 3, 596, 078

sum 2 BF 2 INVENTOR dorm C. OWENS ATTORNEY maneuvers.

Law enforcement ofiicers are required from time to time to exploreremote darkened areas for the purpose of locating and apprehendingdangerous criminal offenders. To illuminate these darkened areas, theofficers often employ a flashlight or similar illuminating means toproject an exploratory beam in advance of their path, but in doing so,the officers also reveal their location to an offender if hiding in thearea. Moreover, the surprise element under such conditions operates infavor of the suspected criminal since the officers location is revealedto the suspect the instant the light beam is projected, whereas, theposition of the suspect is revealed to the ofi'rcers only after the beamis directed upon the suspect.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a timedelayedilluminable projectile which may be triggered and thrown within adarkened area from one location to another prior to its illuminationthereby concealing the location of the party throwing it.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device of the classdescribed in which the light source within the projectile comprisesmeans for producing a high-intensity light flash designated totemporarily blind or impair the dark-adapted vision of a suspect whomight be hiding in the darkened area thereby giving the party throwingthe projectile an initial advantage in making a capture.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a device such asdescribed in the immediately preceding paragraph in which the lightsource also includes an intermittently operable flashing light and acontinuously and concurrently illuminable light, each of the lightshaving a relatively lesser light intensity than that of the initialhigh-intensity light flash. The intermittently flashing light and thecontinuous light will respectively serve the dual purpose of furtherdisconcerting the suspect and of providing continuous illuminationrestricted mainly to the explored area.

Some of the objects of invention having been stated, other objects willappear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exploratory projectile embodying myinvention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view looking at the right-hand side of FIG. 1and showing the activating key pin 19 in cocked or releasable position;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1, but with the translucent topsection thereof removed;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of FIG. 1, but showing the activating key pin inlatched position, and

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical connections betweenthe several components within the projectile.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 denotesbroadly a manually castable or throwable exploratory projectile having aprotective illuminable signalling system arranged therein according tothe present invention. The housing of projectile 10 comprises an opaquebottom section 11 made of high-impact butyrate or similar plastic, and atransparent or translucent top section 12 also made of the samematerial, said sections being detachably secured to one another by anysuitable means such as wedge locks 14. Each lock M consists of aprojection 14a integral with the lower outer periphery of top section12, and a spiralled groove or cam 14b in the upper inner periphery ofbottom section 11 (FIGS. 1-4).

Mounted within united sections 11 and 12 are illuminable signallingcomponents such as a single-flash high-intensity light bulb 15, anintermittently operable flash bulb 16, and a continuously illuminablebulb 17, the latter two bulbs having relatively low light intensities.The illumination of these bulbs is controlled by a time delay circuitschematically illustrated in FIG. 6 and as hereinafter described, saidcircuit including triggering or actuating switch 18, unijunctiontransistor Q1, silicon-controlled rectifier Q2, batteries Bl, capacitorC1 and resistances R1, R2 and R3. I

An epoxy circuit carrier board 20 has a sponge rubber layer 21 attachedto its lower side and a flow-soldered layer on its upper side. The boardand attached layers are adapted to removably fit between bottom and topprojectile sections 11 and 12 and over battery compartment 23 in thebottom section. The sponge rubber layer 21 yieldingly contacts and holdsthe batteries B1 in the compartment, while the flow-soldered layer 22serves to reflect the light of bulbs 15, 16 and 17 upwardly throughtransparent section 12.

It will be observed in FIGS. 1 and 4 that the flow-soldered layer 22 isetched to clear the components 15, 16, 17, Q1, Q2, C1, R1, R2 and R3.

The time delay circuit per se is conventional as will be apparent fromthe SCR Manual published by General Electric Company, pp. 76 and 77, andalso in the Seventh Edition of the General Electric Transistor Manual,pp. 320 and 321. A selected predetermined time interval of the desiredduration may be obtained by choosing the proper types of components R1and C1 according to instructions in the manuals.

Conductors 25 through 33 (FIG. 6) are printed or otherwise suitablymounted on carrier board 20. Suitable terminals 34 and 35 of batteriesB1 are connected to conductors 25 and 28 by means of conductors 36 and37 respectively, the latter'conductor having pin switch 18 therein.Switch 18 is normally held in open position by means of a flexibleplastic activating key pin 19 (FIGS. 2 and 4), said pin having a keyportion 19a integral therewith and insertable into a keyhole 19b inbottom section 11. In FIGS. 2-4, the pin 19 is shown in cocked orwithdrawable position within the keyhole; and when withdrawn, the switch18 will automatically close to initiate operation of the time delaydevice preparatory to the illumination of signalling elements 15, 16 and17 at the expiration of the predetermined time interval. In FIG. 5, thepin 19 is shown in safe" position at which time the pin handle 19csnugly rests in a recess 19d fonned in the outer surface of bottomsection 11.

The components of projectile 10 are so constructed and arranged as to beself-righting after being thrown and while coming to rest in theposition shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the transparent section 12 will normallytend to assume an upright position to transmit light horizontally andvertically from the bulbs 15, 16 and 17.

Briefly stated, the operation of the exploratory projectile is asfollows:

Immediately before throwing the projectile into a darkened area to beexplored, an officer removes'activating pin 19 to permit switch 18 toclose. At this time, current flows through conductors 36, 25, 26 and 27and resistance R1 to charge capacitor C1. After voltage reaches thetrigger voltage of unijunction transistor Q1, the Q1 source conductsthrough R3, conductors 29, 28 and 37 to the negative terminal 35 ofbatteries B1. Concurrently, a positive impulse is fed from Q1 throughconductor 31 to the gate of silicon-controlled rectifier Q2, whichimpulse switches on the rectifier to its conductive mode therebycompleting the circuit from the positive side of the batteries throughthe signalling lamps I5, 16 and 17 through the closed activating switch18 to the negative side of the batteries.

The bottom of projectile section 11 is provided with a circular cavity38 therein for the reception of a spare key pin 19. The cavity 38 has anundercut or reentrant annular groove 38a in which the opposite ends ofthe pin are confined. Since the diameter of groove 38a is slightly lessthan the length of I the pin, the latter will bow upwardly when insertedas shown in FIG. 3 and become wedged in position. A centrally disposedcircular depression 38b forms a part of cavity 38 and permits insertionof the operator's finger or other pointed object to remove the spare keypin 19'.

when the officer removes the firing pin 19 from keyhole 19b preparatoryto throwing the projectile, he ordinarily does not retain the pin, butinstead, will discard it in order to free his hand for other action. Theextra key pin 19' within recess 38 may be used by the officer to openswitch 18 and to stop operation of the lights after the exploratoryoperation is concluded.

Holes 39 are provided adjacent cavity 38 for attachment of a long thincord 40 when the device is used to explore inaccessible locations forthe purpose of retrieving the device.

I claim:

1. A protective signalling exploratory projectile for use in lawenforcement maneuvers, said projectile adapted to be manually thrownwithin a darkened area from one location to another, comprising: atranslucent casing", a light source in said casing, said sourcecomprising a high-intensity flash bulb, an intermittently operable bulbof relatively low light intensity, and a third bulb continuously andconcurrently illuminable with the aforementioned bulbs; a source ofelectricity; and electrical circuit connecting said last-named course tosaid bulbs; a switch in said circuit; and time delay means responsive tothe closing of said switch for deferring the energization of saidcircuit and the light source therein for a time interval immediatelyfollowing said closing whereby the location of the thrower may beconcealed during said interval.

2. A protective signalling exploratory projectile for use in lowenforcement maneuvers, said projectile adapted to be manually thrownwithin a darkened area from one location to another, comprising: atranslucent casing; a light source in said casing; an electrical powersource; an unijunction transistor; means including a circuit and saidpower source for rendering said transistor conductive; a second circuitconnecting said power source and said light source; a time delay meansincluding a silicon-controlled rectifier responsive to the conductivityof said transistor for energizing said second cir cuit and the lightsource therein; and a pin-actuated switch controlling said circuits.

3. An exploratory projectile as defined in claim 2 wherein said timedelay actuating means includes a capacitor for triggering saidrectifier.

4. A protective signalling exploratory projectile for use in lawenforcement maneuvers, said projectile adapted to be thrown within adarkened area from one location to another,

comprising: a translucent casing; a light source in said casing, saidsource comprising a high intensity flash bulb and an intermittentlyoperable bulb of relatively low light intensity; an electrical powersource; an unijunction transistor; means including said circuit and saidpower source for rendering said transistor conductive; a second circuitconnecting said power source and said light source; a time delay meansincluding a silicon-controlled rectifier responsive to the conductivityof said transistor for energizing said second circuit and the lightsource therein; and a manually operable switch for controlling saidcircuits.

5. An exploratory projectile as defined in claim 4 wherein said timedelay actuating means includes a capacitor for triggering saidrectifier.

6. A protective signalling exploratory projectile for use in lawenforcement maneuvers, said projectile adapted to be manually thrownwithin a darkened area from one location to another, comprising: atranslucent casing; a light source in said casing; means forilluminating said source; time delay means for actuating saidilluminating means whereby the illumination of the location of thethrower may be deferred at least for a time interval immediatelyfollowing the throwing of the projectile; means including the eccentricdistribution of theprojectile mass for normally self-righting saidcasing in a predetermined position; means including a removable pin foractuating said time delay means; and means including a cavity in thebottom exterior surface of said self-righted projectile for releasablyretaining a spare actuating pin substantially identical to said firstpin.

7. A protective signalling exploratory projectile for use in lawenforcement maneuvers said projectile adapted to be manually thrownwithin a dar ened area from one ocation to another, comprising: atranslucent casing; a light source in said casing; an electrical powersource; an unijunction transistor; means including a first circuit andsaid power source for rendering said transistor conductive; a secondcircuit connecting said power source and said light source; time delaymeans including said transistor; means including a rectifier responsiveto the conductivity of said transistor for automatically energizing saidsecond circuit and the light source therein; and a switch forcontrolling said first and second circuits.

1. A protective signalling exploratory projectile for use in lawenforcement maneuvers, said projectile adapted to be manually thrownwithin a darkened area from one location to another, comprising: atranslucent casing; a light source in said casing, said sourcecomprising a high-intensity flash bulb, an intermittently operable bulbof relatively low light intensity, and a third bulb continuously andconcurrently illuminable with the aforementioned bulbs; a source ofelectricity; and electrical circuit connecting said last-named course tosaid bulbs; a switch in said circuit; and time delay means responsive tothe closing of said switch for deferring the energization of saidcircuit and the light source therein for a time interval immediatelyfollowing said closing whereby the location of the thrower may beconcealed during said interval.
 2. A protective signalling exploratoryprojectile for use in low enforcement maneuvers, said projectile adaptedto be manually thrown within a darkened area from one location toanother, comprising: a translucent casing; a light source in saidcasing; an electrical power source; an unijunction transistor; meansincluding a circuit and said power source for rendering said transistorconductive; a second circuit connecting said power source and said lightsource; a time delay means including a silicon-controlled rectifierresponsive to the conductivity of said transistor for energizing saidsecond circuit and the light source therein; and a pin-actuated switchcontrolling said circuits.
 3. An exploratory projectile as defined inclaim 2 wherein said time delay actuating means includes a capacitor fortriggering said rectifier.
 4. A protective signalling exploratoryprojectile for use in law enforcement maneuvers, said projectile adaptedto be thrown within a darkened area from one location to another,comprising: a translucent casing; a light source in said casing, saidsource comprising a high intensity flash bulb and an intermittentlyoperable buLb of relatively low light intensity; an electrical powersource; an unijunction transistor; means including said circuit and saidpower source for rendering said transistor conductive; a second circuitconnecting said power source and said light source; a time delay meansincluding a silicon-controlled rectifier responsive to the conductivityof said transistor for energizing said second circuit and the lightsource therein; and a manually operable switch for controlling saidcircuits.
 5. An exploratory projectile as defined in claim 4 whereinsaid time delay actuating means includes a capacitor for triggering saidrectifier.
 6. A protective signalling exploratory projectile for use inlaw enforcement maneuvers, said projectile adapted to be manually thrownwithin a darkened area from one location to another, comprising: atranslucent casing; a light source in said casing; means forilluminating said source; time delay means for actuating saidilluminating means whereby the illumination of the location of thethrower may be deferred at least for a time interval immediatelyfollowing the throwing of the projectile; means including the eccentricdistribution of theprojectile mass for normally self-righting saidcasing in a predetermined position; means including a removable pin foractuating said time delay means; and means including a cavity in thebottom exterior surface of said self-righted projectile for releasablyretaining a spare actuating pin substantially identical to said firstpin.
 7. A protective signalling exploratory projectile for use in lawenforcement maneuvers, said projectile adapted to be manually thrownwithin a darkened area from one location to another, comprising: atranslucent casing; a light source in said casing; an electrical powersource; an unijunction transistor; means including a first circuit andsaid power source for rendering said transistor conductive; a secondcircuit connecting said power source and said light source; time delaymeans including said transistor; means including a rectifier responsiveto the conductivity of said transistor for automatically energizing saidsecond circuit and the light source therein; and a switch forcontrolling said first and second circuits.